Alysson, Panzer, 1806

Kumar, P. Girish, Sheela, S. & Sharma, Gaurav, 2020, Additions to the knowledge of the Tribe Alyssontini (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae Bembicinae) in India with description of two new species of the genus Alysson Panzer, Zootaxa 4861 (2), pp. 270-280 : 271

Key to the species of Indian subcontinent Alysson (modified from Tsuneki, 1968)

1. Mesosoma with ferruginous red markings.................................................................. 2

- Mesosoma (except tegulae) entirely black (sometimes with creamy white spots at pronotum and scutellum).............. 3

2. Propleuron striate in middle; propodeal enclosure with two central carinae united at apex; setae on frons and vertex silvery. ♀. India: Himachal Pradesh ................................................. Alysson erythrothorax Cameron, 1902

- Propleuron simply aciculate at base, not striate; propodeal enclosure with two central carinae not united at apex; setae on frons and vertex black. ♀, ♂. Sri Lanka............................................. Alysson ruficollis Cameron, 1902

3. Propodeal enclosure apically triangular.................................................................... 4

- Propodeal enclosure apically rounded..................................................................... 6

4. First metasomal segment completely and second metasomal segment mostly yellowish red (except black apex and typical creamy yellow lateral spots on second tergite). ♀. India: Himachal Pradesh .............. Alysson himachalensis sp. nov .

- Metasoma entirely black................................................................................ 5

5. Propodeal enclosure only longitudinally carinated; outer area of dorsal side of propodeum with only few radiating striae from outer margins of propodeal enclosure; posterior side of propodeum on each side of the median carina smooth; no creamy white spots on pronotum, scutellum and basal fourth of hind tibia; OOL 3–4 × POL in female; forewing with two infumated bands in female; pygidial setae silvery. ♀. India: West Bengal .................................. Alysson bengalensis sp. nov .

- Propodeal enclosure rugoso-reticulated; outer area of dorsal side of propodeum with numerous areolets; posterior side of propodeum areolated; pair of creamy white spots present on pronotum, scutellum and basal fourth of hind tibia; OOL 1.55 × POL in female; forewing with a single infumated band in female; pygidial setae brownish. ♀, ♂. Sri Lanka; India: Tamil Nadu ........................................................................ Alysson triangularis Krombein, 1985

6. Posterior side of propodeum areolated; clypeus with extreme apex brownish black; forewing with a single infumated band (scutellum with two spots; mid and hind legs blackish and from coxae apically subannulately maculated with yellow). ‘ ♀ ’ = ♂. India: Maharashtra, West Bengal .............................................. Alysson annulipes Cameron, 1897

- Posterior side of propodeum on each side of the median carina smooth; clypeus with extreme apex not brownish black; forewing with two infumated bands (mid and hind legs black, with tarsi dark brown). ♀. India: Himachal Pradesh .................................................................................. Alysson testaceitarsis Cameron, 1902